Antitrust Authority: El Al a monopoly on four long-distance routes

Mr. Dror Strum Antitrust Authority director general, declared last week that El Al Israel Airlines ltd was a monopoly on four long-distance routes between Tel Aviv and: Johannesburg, Bangkok, Hong Kong and Mumbai (Bombay).
 
The Antitrust Authority's declaration followed a thorough investigation which found that El Al posses domination on these four routes, carrying over half the passengers on them. In a statement issued shortly after the declaration Strum noted that:
 
- On the Tel Aviv - Johannesburg route El Al is the only airline providing direct flight. The airline has, according to the Authority, a market share of over 90% for time sensitive passengers and for price sensitive passengers.
 
- On the Tel Aviv - Mumbai (Bombay) route El Al is the only airline providing direct flight. The airline has, according to the Authority, a market share of over 80% for time sensitive passengers and for price sensitive passengers.
 
- On the Tel Aviv - Bangkok route El Al is the only airline providing direct flight. The airline has, according to the Authority, a market share of over 80% for time sensitive passengers and over 70% for price sensitive passengers.
 
- On the Tel Aviv - Hong Kong route El Al is the only airline providing direct flight. The airline has, according to the Authority, a market share of over 90% for time sensitive passengers and for price sensitive passengers.
 
El Al, according to its legal advisers, is expected to appeal the decision.